Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hampton, Arkansas 71635
Friday, February 16, 1996 13:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After deplaning a passenger, the pilot departed the airport, en route to the operator's base to refuel. He reported that, while 'climbing through 6,500 [feet], the left engine began to surge.' After turning back to the departure airport, located 12 miles away, 'both engines began to sputter and quit.' Descending through 4,500 feet, the pilot attempted to restart the right engine and then the left engine. Both engines individually 'ran' for 15-30 seconds, but 'quit again.' During the emergency descent, the pilot 'maneuvered around' a tower to land in a farmer's field. During the ensuing landing, the left wing 'caught a terrace and turned [the airplane] sideways.' The left wing was buckled between the nacelle and fuselage, and fuselage structure above the nose gear was damaged. No usable fuel was found on board, and no fuel spills or leaks were detected.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/16/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HAMPTON
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71635
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 4 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1141
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N197K
NTSB Number FTW96LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROCKWELL
Aircraft Model 500U
Aircraft Series Identifier 500U
Aircraft Serial Number 1167
Certified Max Gross Weight 6750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 30 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 5500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEL AIR INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 1199
Aircraft Owner City CROSSETT
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71635
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code OYKA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 0R6
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CRT
Destination City CROSSETT
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --